Agenda item

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet.)

The following declarations were received:

1.       All Members present declared a pecuniary interest in item 9 ‘Members’ Allowances Scheme 2018/19 and Appointment of Independent Remuneration Panel and in relation to item 16 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2018/19’, but were entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption. 

2.       a)   Councillors Councillors Ashcroft, Barron, Mrs Blake, Blane, Gordon, Kay, Mrs Marshall, Mee, Pope and Whittington declared a pecuniary interest in relation to relevant lines in the budget in respect of item 15 ‘Budget Requirement 2018/19’ and item 17 ‘Medium TermGRA Capital Programme’ in relation to Parish Council matters in view of their membership of a Parish Counciland indicated they would not participate in any detailed discussions which affected the finances of those bodies specifically.* 

          b)    Councillors Aldridge, Barron, Hennessy, O’Toole and Pope declared a pecuniary interest in relation to relevant lines in the budget in respect of item 15 ‘Budget Requirement 2018/19’ and item 17 ‘Medium TermGRA Capital Programme’ as Members of Lancashire County Council (LCC) as did Councillors Gagen and McKay as employees of LCC, and indicated that they would not participate in any detailed discussions which affected LCC.*

c)    Councillor Hennessy declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to relevant lines in the budget in respect of item 15 ‘Budget Requirement 2018/19’ and item 17 ‘Medium TermGRA Capital Programme’ in respect of her appointment to West Lancashire Community Leisure.*

d)     Councillor Wynn declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to item 15 ‘Budget Requirement 2018/19’ and item 17 ‘Medium TermGRA Capital Programme’, as he is employed by Essential Fleet Services Ltd to maintain Council vehicles and works at the Robert Hodge Centre and indicated he would not participate in any detailed discussions which affected his employer or employment.*

e)     The following Councillors, appointed by the Council to the bodies listed, declared a pecuniary interest in relation to relevant lines in the budget in respect of item 15 ‘Budget Requirement 2018/19’ regarding the ‘Grant to Voluntary Organisations’*.

        Councillors                          Voluntary Body

·       Moran                           Lancashire West CAB

·       Pendleton                      West Lancs Dial A Ride Association

·       G Hodson                     West Lancs CVS

Cooper

Nixon

        Pryce Roberts

·       Aldridge                        Homestart Central Lancashire

Ms Melling

·       J Davis                SW Lancs. Independent Community Advice Network

CouncillMee also declared an interest in West Lancs Dial A Ride Association as a member of the Executive Committee and his involvement with Community Cars.

g)     Councillor Whittington declared a pecuniary interest in relation item 15 ‘Budget Requirement 2018/19’ in respect of the ‘Community Grants’ as his wife is a trustee of Lancashire West CAB and this body had been recommended to receive funding for 2018/19:*

h)     Councillors Ashcroft, Barron, Blane, Mills, O'Toole, Stephenson, D Westley, Mrs Westley and Whittington declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 15 'Budget Requirement 2018/19 as they are residents in Council Tax Band G and H properties, as did Councillor Cotterill as he is a customer at the Junk Food Café in Skelmersdale.

* By virtue of a dispensation granted by the Standards Committee all Councillors who have disclosable pecuniary or pecuniary interests in relation to relevant lines in the budget may participate and vote in the budget debates but not engage in detailed discussions about matters which affect those interests.

3.       Councillors Ashcroft, Barron, Mrs Blake, Blane, Gordon, Kay, Mrs Marshall, Mee, Pope and Whittington declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 16 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2018/19’ in view of their membership of a Parish Council. 

4.       Councillors Aldridge, Barron, Hennessy, O’Toole and Pope declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 'Review of Grounds Maintenance and Street Cleansing' and item 16 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2018/19’, as Members of Lancashire County Council, as did Councillors Gagen and McKay as an employee of Lancashire County Council.

5.       Councillors Delaney, Devine, Forshaw, Owen, Nixon and West (Tenant of a Council flat/house) Aldridge and McKay (Tenant of a Council garage) declared disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to item 17 ‘Medium Term GRA Capital Programme and item 18 ‘Housing Account – Revenue and Capital Programme’ for the reasons indicated but were entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption (nothing in these reports relates particularly to their respective interests arising from the tenancy or lease).

6.       Councillors Aldridge, Blaine, Mee, Pendleton and Wright declared non-pecuniary interests in relation to item 17 ‘Medium Term GRA Capital Programme and item 18 ‘Housing Account – Revenue and Capital Programme’ as they have a connected person who is a tenant of rented Council accommodation. Insofar as that interest becomes a pecuniary interest (as it would affect the financial position of their relative and a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard this as so significant that it is likely to prejudice their judgement of the public interest) they declared that interest but considered that they were entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption as nothing in these reports relates particularly to the relevant tenancy or lease.

7.       Councillors Pope and Moran declared a non pecuniary interest in item 8 ‘Pay Policy Statement’ as members of the Lancashire County Council Pension Fund Committee.

8.       Councillors Hennessy and O’Toole declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 16 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2018/19’ as a Member of Lancashire Fire & Rescue Authority and Councillor Wilkie as an employee.

9.       Councillor Wynn declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in relation to item 11 'Recycling/Garden Waste Bin Initiative' and item 12 ‘Review of Grounds Maintenance and Street Cleansing’, as he is employed by Essential Fleet Services Ltd to maintain Council vehicles and works at the Robert Hodge Centre.

10.     Councillor Wright declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 16 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2018/19' as a member appointed to the Police and Crime Panel and agenda item 13 'Review of Pay and Display Parking and Charges' as a blue badge holder.

11.     Councillor McKay declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in relation to item 11 'Recycling/Garden Waste Bin Initiative' as an employee of Lancashire County Council at the Household Waste Recycling Centre.